A Proposal on Evaluation of Nigeria University Academic Curriculum and Training of Journalistic Safety: a Study of AE- Funai Mass Communication Curriculum
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The objectives to be used for this study are;
- 1. To determine if safety issues are part of academic journalism curricular
- To determine how topic of safety is covered in AE FUNAI curricular
- To determine ways of developing curricula on safety.
CHAPTER TWO
Related literature
CONCEPTUALIZATION OF SAFETY
The concept of safety goes beyond the issue of press freedom. Press freedom deals with freedom of journalists to access information, absence of censorship and repressive laws. Press freedom does not in any way provide safety for journalists against threats, physical and psychological attacks (Carlsson & Pöyhtäri, 2017; Berger, 2017). Berger (2017, p. 37) submits that “the issue in press freedom is about the character of laws limiting the right to free expression, and their application”, meanwhile “the issue in safety is about the rule of law and the protection of the individual’s right to life, liberty and the security of person.” Arguing on press freedom and safety, Berger concludes: Both rights are per the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and they bring different considerations to bear. Restrictions on the right to free expression do not necessarily impact on the right to life and security. Interconnection should not be mistaken for identity. In other words, it is important to remember the distinctiveness of safety and media freedom, while at the same time also being aware of interconnections between these, and between them and the dimensions of independence, pluralism, gender and digital developments (Berger, 2017, p. 37). Specifically speaking, there are about nine types of safety challenges faced by journalists in line of duty. These include: physical, psychological, financial, legal, social and emotional, gender-specific, digital, topic-specific, and public risks (UNESCO, 2017). Jamil (2017a) explains that physical risks are risks of being injured and of being subjected to any kind of physical attack that may lead to physical disability and harm. Psychological risks refer to stress and pressure that may affect a journalist’s ability to perform his/ her job freely and safely. Financial risks mean the threats of job insecurity, pay-scale disparity and forced job termination. Legal risks include the existence of impunity for crimes against journalists; unfair trial against journalists; manipulation and abuse of laws against journalists and the existence of stringent media laws. Social and emotional risks include the risks of anxiety, fear, depression, offence and lower self-esteem that mainly arise from the country’s social context or a journalist’s surrounding environment (i.e., workplace’s environment and socio-political environment). Gender-specific risks refer to those threats that a journalist may encounter by virtue of his/or her gender such as sexual assault, rape, gender harassment, discrimination and blackmailing.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work. The choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought to evaluation of Nigeria university academic curriculum and training of journalistic safety: A study of AE- FUNAI mass communication curriculum.
CHAPTER FOUR
METHOD OF DATA ANALYSIS
The researcher will employ oral and direct interview in administering this research questions. Responses from the respondents were needed unlike questionnaires, which is less rewarding due to late receipt and loss of responses from respondents. The method of data analysis that will be used by the researcher is the simple percentage. Data will be collected and analyzed after four days. While data that will be collected through the questionnaire will be presented in simple percentage tables the interview will also analyzed using textual analysis in accordance to the level of occurrence of each participant.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
This study was on evaluation of Nigeria university academic curriculum and training of journalistic safety: A study of AE- FUNAI mass communication curriculum. Three objectives were raised which included: To determine if safety issues is part of academic journalism curricular, to determine how topic of safety is covered in AE FUNAI curricular and to determine ways of developing curricula on safety. Data were collected and analyzed after four days. While data collected through the questionnaire were presented in simple percentage tables the interview was analyzed using textual analysis in accordance to the level of occurrence of each participant
Conclusion
On safety education of journalist, it can be argued that despite the differences in the contexts of the studies, a number of important issues seemed to be common between the contexts: Majority of the studies show the dominance of international NGOs when it comes to providing safety training. There is no doubt that journalists are subject to assault globally. Most of these assaults are done with high level of impunity. Journalists most times resort to self-help to avoid threats. Despite the availability of laws protecting journalist, the culture of impunity still prevails in many of the countries. This can be attributed partly to dysfunctional justice system
Recommendation
It is therefore recommended that journalists in Nigeria come together to form a body such as Nigerian Journalist Safety Commission (NJSC) to maintain an emergency fund for journalists and a 24-hour hotline. The funds are to be used to evacuate journalists and relocate them to safe zones, where they receive financial support for basic needs as well as communication tools. The should offer legal and psychological support through the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Bar Association to provide free legal assistance to journalists in all states of the country
References
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